Students shut down dozens of French high schools over education reforms

Students shut down dozens of high schools across France on Tuesday, renewing pressure on the government to address concerns over deteriorating school infrastructure, overcrowded classrooms and limited access to higher education.

The protests resumed after a two-week autumn break, with student groups planning further demonstrations on Thursday to coincide with a nationwide strike called by trade unions. Authorities reported that 48 of France's 3,700 high schools were blocked on Tuesday, with disruptions reported in major cities including Paris, Rennes, Toulouse and Lyon. However, the Union syndicale lyceenne, a student union, disputed the figures, claiming that as many as 500 institutions were affected.

The union also accused authorities of using excessive force to contain the demonstrations, alleging that young protesters were pinned against walls and riot police deployed outside schools. "Our impression is that the objective is to suppress the movement and prevent Thursday's mobilisation," a union representative was quoted as saying by AFP.

In Rennes, around 30 students blocked access to Brequigny High School, one of France's largest secondary schools. The demonstration quickly turned tense as students confronted a member of the school administration. "You are not the majority," the staff member told the protesters. "If we're doing this, it's because everything we've tried before hasn't worked," one student replied.

The school protests have become part of a broader nationwide movement against rising living costs and deteriorating public services. The demonstrations have drawn hundreds of thousands of people onto the streets over the past three weekends, with October 17 witnessing some of the worst unrest France has experienced in years.

The student movement has also inspired similar protests in other European countries, including Belgium, Italy and Spain, where the French term "blocus" has gained popularity as a hashtag associated with school blockades. Last week, the French government announced measures intended to address some student concerns, including changes to the university admissions process, which has faced criticism over a lack of transparency. Student leaders, however, have dismissed the proposals as insufficient, insisting that deeper reforms are needed.

The scale of the protests has remained contested. On Monday, authorities reported blockades at 42 high schools, representing around 1% of the national total, while student unions put the figure at 169. Authorities also said around 15% of higher education institutions were affected by disruptions that day.

With another round of demonstrations planned for Thursday, pressure is mounting on the government to respond to students' demands as the wider labour movement prepares for nationwide action.